Personal Philosophy of Nursing

Miami Dade College NUR 2811C

Ashley Allen
December 6, 2015

The nursing metaparadigm is a framework consisting of four central conceptsperson,

health, environment, and nursing. The framework is universal but the concepts become
individualized with time and by experience. During my first semester of nursing school I came
across a quote that struck a chord with me: Treat your patient as a whole, not just the hole in
your patient. As a new and nervous nursing student, I didnt know how to incorporate this
concept in to my practice. I was still learning how to assess the different body systems and
struggling to connect each finding. I was mostly concerned with understanding the medical
diagnosis and understanding what signs and symptoms to look for, rather than understanding
how the medical diagnosis would affect the daily lives of my patients, their families, and their
experiences while being in the hospital. It never occurred to me, until earlier this semester, that
the four central concepts of the nursing metaparadigmperson, environment, health, and nursing
are balanced by each other.
During my time as a nursing student, I have come to value the nursing metaparadigm and
establish my own definition of the four central concepts. I believe the person encompasses the
concept of the self, family, groups, and communities. When providing medical care, we arent
merely treating the hole in the patient, we are treating the whole patient. When we are
treating a little boy who sustained third-degree burns to both hands, the care extends to the
parents and siblings who share the boys pain and are invested in his care and recovery. We must
also consider the diversity and the sentience of our patients, and protect their autonomy. Each
persons values are central to his or her care.
The working environment of a nurse should provide a culture of inclusivenessit should
involve the integration of individuals from different task forces and create a sense of belonging,

respect, and value. The environment should reflect the priorities of institution in providing
quality patient care. It should provide an atmosphere conducive to healing for the patient and to
wellness for patients, families, and caregivers alike.
Health doesnt simply define a state of absence of illness or diseaseit defines a state of
being whole. It is the ability to pursue life without constraints. As nurses, we care for people at
their lowest, with the goal of restoring them to a state of wellbeing; our goal is to help patients
move along the illnesswellness continuum so they can flourish in all aspects of their lives.
Health encompasses physical, emotional, social, mental, environmental, and spiritual wellness.
Nursing is perhaps the most difficult of the four nursing metaparadigm concepts to
understand; it is the art of blending medical knowledge, clinical skills, and compassion to
promote healing. Nurses must be able to look beyond our personal beliefs and judgments,
overcoming our personal biases so that we can deliver quality, compassionate care to patients in
their time of need.